MT: 2012 Kia Sportage EX First Test

Ask the average person when the crossover segment was invented and most would guess somewhere in the '90s or even early 2000s. Ask an enthusiast the same question and they may point you to a convertible pseudo-sports all-roader called the Jeepster, first produced by Willys back in 1948. Regardless of where you fall on the argument of timing, it's hard to deny the impact the crossover has had on the car-buying public.

The current crop of CUVs like the 2012 Kia Sportage EX we recently tested tend to fall into two categories. The first leans toward a minivan in driving experience and layout; the second behaves like a lifted hatchback. Both offer the space of a station wagon with the looks of an SUV -- but without much off-roading ability. The aggressive-looking Sportage offers suburbanites a chance to look rugged without having to struggle to lift their skinny-jean-clad legs into a tall vehicle.

"On the road, the Sportage exhibited behavior we have come to expect from Kia. The suspension is a bit harsh over bumps, transmitting impacts from the road into the passenger compartment while still exhibiting a decent amount of wandering and a distinct lack of preciseness. The damping rates are stiff, but the suspension movement just isn't controlled. The wheels catch grooves in the road or are deflected by road irregularities, pushing the little CUV around and necessitating constant steering correction. It gives the Kia a feeling of already being worn-out and a generation behind in overall chassis tuning. On our figure eight track, the Sportage turned in a 28.6-second lap time pulling an average 0.58 g. For comparison, a 178-hp 2012 Ford Escape SE we recently tested turned in the same lap at 28.0 seconds and 0.61 g. Admittedly, the likelihood of Escape and Sportage drivers ever racing is remote, but it is almost impossible to quantify how much more confidence inspiring and comfortable the Ford is to drive."

Hopefully Kia will put the Sportage on the ring as well. Yes the suspension is not as good as the others but look wise"Sportage>Escape>CR-V no contest. Also I'd rather have the Sportage SX AWD over all others.
_______________Your choices are white and of course black___________________

GemLeKiH:Hopefully Kia will put the Sportage on the ring as well. Yes the suspension is not as good as the others but look wise"Sportage>Escape>CR-V no contest. Also I'd rather have the Sportage SX AWD over all others.

A fair review, hopefully they can refine their lineup more. "It felt like a generation behind" was a good way of MT putting that, I have felt the same way across a variety of Hyundai/Kia products.

Like so many Hyundai/Kia products I like the look, but when you have to live with it I would prefer some of the more established players that seem to have the refinement thing down a lot more.
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The Sportage is known for its stiffer ride (in part due to the hard rubber), but in SX trim, it handles pretty well for its segment.

While there is some differences in tuning, the UK Sportage gets the top nod within the crossover segment by Autocar, gets 4* by AutoExpress (beating out the venerable Nissan Qashqai)and was awarded the Car of the Year title by CarBuyer.co.uk.

The Sportage could use some fine-tuning of its steering and suspension and an upgraded interior, but that will come in part when it gets refreshed and esp. when it gets replaced by the next gen model.

duncan36:Wow MT usually cozies up to Kia/Hyundai products. I'm amazed at how they totally savaged the Sportage with their review. It must be a real POS.

I bet you it was because of the seats. You guys have to admit a crappy seat can make even a great car feel like pure trash. The sportage may not be good or great, but having bad seats is no way to improving your chances of getting a good review.
________________"Speed is cheap in my opinion. It's everything else that gives a car it's value(RoTiCaFo)."

Zoomin:A fair review, hopefully they can refine their lineup more. "It felt like a generation behind" was a good way of MT putting that, I have felt the same way across a variety of Hyundai/Kia products.

Like so many Hyundai/Kia products I like the look, but when you have to live with it I would prefer some of the more established players that seem to have the refinement thing down a lot more.

Maybe you're talking about driving refinement, but i've been in a Sportage before (take that BDove!), and the interior materials just seem chintzy. They're not cheap, but they're not that great either. Those radio displays aren't the best either.
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